Sea Turtles

The adult Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) weighs 113 to 181 kilograms and has a lengthiness of .9 to 1.21 meters. Green Sea Turtle have two pairs of scales amidst their eyes. Their scutes are in the middle of the carapace of about 5 and 4 running down the side of the carapace. Male Chelonia mydas mate with females in foraging grounds along areas where they migrate, and nesting locations are on sandy beaches. The nesting season is from late spring migration into early summer (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). The clutch size is 110 eggs and incubations last for 60 days (University of Georgia, n.d.). Lifespan is 70 years or more. After hatching the Green Sea Turtles move from the sandy beach to the open sea habitat. The conservation status is considered endangered, and NOAA Fisheries is over this protection through the ESA. A Memorandum along with U.S. FWS (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.).

Hawksbill Sea Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) grow to about 2 to 3 feet in length when it comes to their shell’s length and weigh between 100 to 150 pounds when fully mature. Hawksbill sea turtles have four scales amidst their eyes and four scutes on the side of their shell. Hawksbill’s favored eatery are sea sponges but they will eat other ocean dwelling organisms similar to sea sponges (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). Hawksbill sea turtles have about 120 eggs within their clutch. In reproduction, Eretmochelys imbricata breed every one to four years but can nest as much as six times (Hawksbill, n.d.). Nesting locations are on sandy beaches along coastlines. The nesting season is between April and November (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). The incubation time is about sixty days (NWF, n.d.). When Eretmochelys imbricata leave their nesting areas they migrate to the open seas and then take shelter in algal mats floating in the sea for 1 to 5 years before coming back to their nesting grounds of the sandy beaches. The conservation status is considered endangered, and NOAA Fisheries is over this protection through the ESA. A Memorandum along with U.S. FWS (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.).

Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) grow to about 2.5 to 3.5 feet in length when it comes to their shell’s breadth and measure between 90 to 158 kilograms when fully mature. Loggerhead sea turtles eat sea snails, and other invertebrates. (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). Loggerhead sea turtles have two pair of scales amidst their eyes and twelve scutes on its shell (American Oceans, 2023). Loggerhead sea turtles have about 100 eggs within their clutch. In reproduction the sea turtles move to higher temperature of waters for mating purposes. The mating period lasts for six weeks, and the nesting season is from May to August. Nesting locations are on sandy beaches along coastlines (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). The incubation time is about 58 days (FWC, n.d.). The conservation status is considered endangered, and NOAA Fisheries is over this protection through the ESA. A Memorandum along with U.S. FWS (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.).

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) grow to about two feet in measurement when it comes to their shell's lengthiness and measure between 31 to 45 kilograms when fully of age (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). Kemp Ridley sea turtles eat crabs for food and sources like crabs (Mass.gov, n.d.). Kemp Ridley sea turtles have about 100 eggs within their clutch (American Oceans, 2023). Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles have 2 pairs of scales between their eyes. In reproduction the sea turtles move to higher temperatures within water for mating purposes. Lifespan is about 30 years and nesting occur from April to July of every year along sandy beaches (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). The incubation time is about 70 days (Virginia DWR, (2023). The conservation status is considered endangered, and NOAA Fisheries is over this protection through the ESA. A Memorandum along with U.S. FWS (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.).

Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles grow to about two to two and a half feet in measurement. When it comes to their shell’s lengthiness and measure 45 kilograms when fully of age. Olive Ridley sea turtles have 2 pairs of scales between their eyes and five to nine pairs of scutes on their carapace. Olive Ridley Sea Turtles eat organisms that are upon the surface of the ocean (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). Olive Ridey sea turtles have about 110 eggs within their clutch (Olive Ridley, 2021). No known lifespan of age but maturity is about 14 years old. In reproduction the sea turtles migrate to warmer waters for mating purposes. Nesting locations are on sandy beaches along coastlines (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.) Olive Ridley’s nesting season is from January to May (JAISANKAR, 2020). The incubation time is about 58 days (All Turtles, n.d.).

Flatback Sea Turtles (Natator depressus) grow to about 3 feet in length when it comes to their shells length and weigh around 148 pounds when fully mature. Flatback sea turtles scutes are located in the middle of the carapace of about 5 and 4 running down the side of the carapace. Flatback sea turtles have about 54 eggs within their clutch (Olive Ridley Project, 2021). Lifespan is about 50 years old (Gaeng, n.d.). Flatbacks are carnivorous in their diet (ANIMALIA, 2023). In reproduction the sea turtles move to a warm water climate for reproduction purposes. Nesting locations are on sandy beaches along coastlines. Flatback Sea Turtles nesting season is from November to January. Australia’s biodiversity act for Flatback Sea Turtles is considered vulnerable as of 2016 (Active Wild,2018).

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) weighs between 340 to 453 kilograms and has a measurement of five to six feet. They have a hard shell with no scales or scutes. Leatherback sea turtles have about 100 eggs within their clutch. Lifespan is about 50 years old. Leatherback sea turtles eat jellyfish and other soft foods. In reproduction the sea turtles migrate to warmer waters for mating purposes. Nesting locations are on sandy beaches along coastlines. In reproduction the sea turtles move to warm climate waters of the sea for reproduction. Sea Turtles nesting season is from July to September. The conservation status is considered endangered, and NOAA Fisheries is over this protection through the ESA. A Memorandum along with U.S. FWS (NOAA Fisheries, n.d.).

Sources:

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). Hawksbill Sea Turtles. Retrieved from:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawksbill-turtle

Hawksbill. (n.d.). Hawksbill Sea Turtles. Retrieved from:

https://hawksbillseaturtle.weebly.com/reproduction.html

NWF. (n.d.). Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Retrieved from:

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Sea-Turtles/Hawksbill-Sea-Turtle

University of Georgia. (n.d.). Green Sea Turtle. Retrieved from:

https://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/chemyd.htm#:~:text=It%20usually%20takes%20a%20Green%20sea%20turtle%202-3,Incubation%20lasts%20for%20an%20average%20of%2060%20days.

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). Green Sea Turtle. Retrieved from:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/green-turtle

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Retrieved from: